A NEW joint-church venture has sprung up at the Fellowship Church Hall in Raglan to help get the community back to socialising after the isolation of the pandemic.
The weekly venture is the brainchild of Minister Revd Carol Soble who has teamed up with Team Curate, Rev Sarah Rosser from The Church of St Cadoc in Raglan to help promote wellbeing and bring the community back together after two years apart.
Helping officially launch the cafe was Nick Ramsay, Chair of Raglan Community Council who said he was delighted to be able to formally launch the venture.
“Looking around, the number of people here today and the enthusiasm we can see here today in the short time this facility has been opened just goes to show what a great idea this was from the start” he added.
Rev Soble explained: “A Community Café is rooted in the vision of Raglan Baptist Church to be at the heart of its community and my commitment is to a partnership approach in bringing the community together around a shared space featuring food and drink”
She went on to tell the Beacon, “Like many community organisations we have become acutely aware of the effect that two years of Covid-19 has had on social networks.
“Our own ‘Who Cares’ survey showed the negative effect this time has had on people’s mental health. The loss of face to face social networks affects all age groups, particularly home-based parents with small children and those later in life. “Although Raglan has two excellent pubs, there is no café in the village,” she added.
As well as serving home made cake and fresh coffee, the Community Café will be affiliated to the Renew Wellbeing Charity that links community spaces such as this one where it is ‘OK not to be OK’.
The aim is to be a warm and welcoming space for people to gather and spend time together over a simple menu of hot and cold drinks, homemade cakes and snacks. There is a large ‘Community Table’ where those who come seeking company can meet others.
As part of the set up, the Community Café has invested in high chairs, play pen and floor mats for those with small children.
Hazel Cave, the Children and Family Worker, plans to be there most Fridaysand when activities for children are provided these are included.
Grants are also being sought to upgrade the general seating in the Fellowship Centre.
Viv Compton has been appointed Community Café Co-ordinator and is looking for a volunteer team to help with the running of the project and keep it going after the initial two-year period for which funding has been found.
The café is also seeking volunteer bakers who would like to support the project by donating home-made cake on a monthly basis.
“Once cut and sold these contribute far more than the cost of ingredients, yet help keep prices affordable for everyone” added Carol.
Rev Sarah Rosser said it was a joy to see the community cafe in action last Friday, “it is a real opportunity for partnerships to flourish, not just between churches but the wider community, with everyone working together for the benefit of the village. The café provides a welcome space for people to come together and feel part of a community” she added.
The café is open from 9am - 12.30 each Friday